The Viking Run, Day 1- Amtrak from Sanford, FL to Lorton, VA.

 

New Smyrna Beach, FL

It has begun. The day has finally arrived and I am in motion. I left home this morning at 1030 on a quick commute to Constant Aviation. I stopped in to say goodbye for now and departed there for the Amtrak Autotrain station in Sanford. For the last several days I don't think I could have paced the floor more or looked at my bike and gear trying to figure out if I had packed everything or put things in the proper order. Time will tell I suppose. I said goodbye to Whiskey (the dog) and walked out the door to the bike, which had been loaded up and packed for two days. Jacket, helmet and gloves on I pressed the starter and a commitment was made. A commitment between me and this machine that we will treat each other right for the next 39 days. I swore to do my part...the bike didn't say much. I pulled out of the driveway, it was sunny and hot. The weight of the bike seemed balanced and that was it, out of the neighborhood and down the road we went. 

Constant Aviation

About half way to Constant and I started to ruminate about the fact that I was finally in motion. On the bike, comfortable and beginning to feel at ease. Kentucky was a precursor to what lay ahead. And now finally, my brain is in travel mode. It's been planned, edited and re-planed. What's in the luggage and saddlebags is what I got. It's time to start checking boxes.

Amtrak Autotrain, Sanford, FL

So now, here I am on the train. The bike is back there somewhere and we are quite comfortably covering the miles to Lorton, Virginia. We are expected to arrive at 1000 tomorrow and at this moment, we just passed the Naval Air Station in JAX. The sun is shinning and its raining. I would expect that we will be crossing in to Georgia in the next half hour or so. The train is 3/4 of a mile long. There is just shy of 300 people on board. There are 197 cars and two motorcycles in the 21 train cars behind me. 

It's a great start!

The Viking Run - 5 Days to Departure

 5 days!!!!! Holy hell. In five days I'll leave on the back of my motorcycle for a two month long excursion and I honestly do not feel prepared. How can that be? It's not like I haven't known I was going. I haven't been feeling well for the past week and that forced me to lose some valuable prep time. I have two days left of work and then a 3 day weekend to put everything together and then...go for it. I'm nervous, anxious. In the grand scheme of things, this trip isn't that big of endeavor, not compared to the numerous amount of men and women riding epic rides around the world. Endless rides, making a living do so. But for me, this is the one, the one for the books. 

The Viking Run - 30 Days to Departure

 

30 Days. This is where the countdown truly begins. There are no more months, only days left. They won't go by slow either. That's how it happens. I've been planning this trip for three years, the idea of it coming to fruition is somehow nerve wracking now, nerves about heading out, whether or not I'm really prepared. And it's not just a week or two, it's two whole months and riding almost every day. So many unknowns. I learned yesterday that the Trans Lab Highway is NOT fully paved, Another rider on Instagram is currently riding the same route in reverse and said there are a 100 miles of dirt between Labrador City and Manic 5, Not very pleased about that. Gravel isn't such an issue, I mean it won't be fun but it's ridable. Mud, oh boy! Now mud is a different story. Dirt, gravel roads have a tendency to turn to mud, and 100 miles of mud can easily turn in to a bad day, A long, bad day. But what the hell, before I even get there I gotta deal with D.C., Philly and Boston traffic and who all knows what. So, its all a part of  the adventure. And if it were easy, everyone would do it right? I'll be excited on August 2nd. Until then...well,,, apprehensive.

A stowaway in may saddlebags

The Viking Run - 40 Days to Departure

Forty days. That's a crazy number to look at. Less than a month and a half left for something that has been in the works for years to be so close, It's hard to fathom.

I went to Eurocycles up in Daytona last week and had new tires installed on the bike. Michelin Road 6 GTs I ordered from Revzilla. I've never heard so many people rave about a tire, I hope it lives up to the hype. 

Eurocycles of Daytona

Michelin Road 6 GT

They also changed the oil and did an annual service on the bike, which was probably much needed. It got fresh brake fluid and they really doctored the chain up for me, which is good. It's a good starting point for the trip and needs to be something I pay special attention to throughout the ride. I may even try to schedule some chain maintenance along the way just to be safe, in St. John's and then later again in Quebec City.

I ordered some food for a couple of rough camps planned along the TLH and a rechargeable tire inflator today from Amazon. The little compressor was an idea from Devon, the tech up at Eurocycles. I hadn't given that any thought and really think it may be one of the most indispensable tools on the trip. I also had to run up to Bass Pro and pick up another necessity that I have to have and hope I don't need...bear spray!

I don't want to be a testimonial for how good this stuff works.

The Viking Run - 56 Days to Departure

I've spent the weekend so far making some adjustments to my Furkot maps and I'd venture to say there isn't really anymore tweaking to do, the trip is set in stone. I've created 28 individual Furkot maps for each riding day in an attempt to make each day an easier download in to the Scenic app. If it works, I'm having trouble getting it to give voice commands. 

I made an appointment for the tires and oil change next Saturday at Eurocycles. So that will be one of the final steps to complete. I'll get the rear platform on Tuesday, as well as some new boots I ordered with points from Revzilla. Once the platform is installed, I'll get the bike loaded out and do a practice ride or two to check the weight and balance. 

I'd like to be down to just the countdown by July 4th. 

The Viking Run - 60 Days to Departure

 

Today is a milestone day. 60 days until departure! That's the blink of an eye really. I feel that means I really only have thirty days left of prep. This trip can not come down to last minute compositions. I can say without a doubt that as of today...sixty days to go... I am not ready. 

I ordered a tail rack for the bike from an online vendor over two months ago. They told me it was an eight week lead time so I chatted with them this week and was informed they are no longer working with that manufacturer and to contact them directly. I did so and they shipped out the part the next day. It will be here Tuesday. That tail piece is the key to how I will transport my fuel tank and luggage, so two months wasted from a retailer with very poor service.

I am packing for all of the possible pitfalls that I can imagine could occur; cold weather, breakdowns, fixes, flat tires...I barely have room for clothing. I'll make it all work somehow, but right now, it is disconcerting. 

I was going to wait until July to get the tires installed and the oil changed, but that will happen this month now instead. I really need July to be a time for calm. I wonder if this trip is as serious an undertaking as it feels or if its just a get on the damn bike and ride? I'm not the type to forgo prep and try to plan as much as possible. I mean, it's 6000 fucking miles, 150 hours of saddle time. I just don't think being cavalier is the way to go.

The Viking Run - 75 Days to Departure

 

Seventy five days!! Might as well be seventy five seconds with how fast time flies. I have yet to try to pack and load out the bike and that needs to happen soon. I ordered a tail rack for the bike in March and it has yet to arrive. It's kind of a key element to the way I plan to load out the bike. It will also be the primary way the aux fuel tank will be affixed with my main luggage bag on top, or at least I think so. So, that needs to get here ASAP. 

I did get new tires, ordered from Revzilla, Michelin Road 6 GTs, which are supposed to have amazing wet weather traction and more importantly, longevity. The OEM Bridgestone Battleaxes I have on the bike now were good for about 6000 miles, which is about the length of this trip alone. The Road 6's are supposedly good for 12,000 miles or more, supposedly. 

Michelin Road 6 GT